Marine Debris

Human-derived trash, mostly in the form of micro and macro plastics, can cause major damage across all marine ecosystems.
A graph showing the likelihood of encountering marine debris on beaches in Southern California from 1999 to 2007. Data source: Ribic et al. 2012; Figure credit: K. Andrews/NOAA.

A graph showing the likelihood of encountering marine debris on beaches in Southern California from 1999 to 2007. Data source: Ribic et al. 2012; Figure credit: K. Andrews/NOAA.

Click for Details Marine debris estimates modeled along the mainland southern California coast based on debris measured by the National Marine Debris Monitoring Program. Marine debris was relatively constant across the last five years of this time series (1999-2007) and within historic levels. For more information, consult Figure App.C.4.14 in the CINMS 2016 Condition Report.

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A figure showing the percentage of sampling stations with plastic debris across three sampling years. Figure credit: Gilfillan et al. 2009.

A figure showing the percentage of sampling stations with plastic debris across three sampling years. Figure credit: Gilfillan et al. 2009.

Click for Details Variation over time in percentage of stations from winter CalCOFI cruises with plastic micro-debris. Micro-debris was present in more than 50 percent of samples at each time period. For more information, consult Figure App.C.4.15 in the CINMS 2016 Condition Report.

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A map showing the distribution, concentration, and characteristics of plastic micro-debris in net samples from the CalCOFI region from winter cruises across three sampling years. Figure credit: Gilfillan et al. 2009.

A map showing the distribution, concentration, and characteristics of plastic micro-debris in net samples from the CalCOFI region from winter cruises across three sampling years. Figure credit: Gilfillan et al. 2009.

Click for Details Spatial distribution, concentration, and characteristics of plastic micro-debris in net samples from the CalCOFI region from winter cruises in (A) 1984, (B) 1994, and (C) 2007. Open circles indicate no plastic debris detected and filled circle diameter are proportional to particle concentrations (number per cubic meter). There was no relationship between the numerical concentration of particles and distance from shore, the presumed source of the majority of debris. For more information, consult Figure App.C.4.16 in the CINMS 2016 Condition Report.

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